Worship and offering
Danced in a temple, shrine, church or lodge, or as an act of devotion.
🇧🇷 BrazilCapoeira
A Brazilian martial art that blends dance, acrobatics, and music in a circle gameWar or martial dance · Circle · Solo
🇳🇿 New ZealandHaka
A ceremonial group dance from New Zealand featuring vigorous movement and chanted words.Folk dance · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaBharatanatyamபரதநாட்டியம்
A South Indian classical dance from Tamil Nadu, performed solo in temples and on stages.Classical dance · Solo
🇮🇱 IsraelHakafotהַקָּפוֹת
A joyful circling procession with Torah scrolls in synagogue on Simchat Torah and SukkotRitual dance · Procession · Circle
🇻🇪 VenezuelaDancing devils of Corpus ChristiDiablos danzantes de Corpus Christi
Masked dancers in red parade and perform on Corpus Christi in Venezuelan townsRitual dance · Procession · Group
🇯🇵 JapanAwa Dance Festival阿波踊り
A street dance festival held during Obon in Tokushima, JapanFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇮🇳 IndiaRamlilaरामलीला
A folk drama of the Ramayana, staged outdoors during Navaratri and DussehraFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇺🇸 United States and 1 morePowwow
A gathering of Indigenous communities with dance, song, and ceremonyFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇪🇨 EcuadorSanjuanito
A circle dance and music from Ecuador’s Andean highlands, often for Inti RaymiFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago and 5 moreMocko jumbie
Tall stilt dancers in masks, leading Carnival parades across the CaribbeanFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇧🇸 Bahamas and 2 moreJunkanoo
A costumed street parade with drumming, dance and masquerade, held at Christmas and other timesFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇮🇳 IndiaPaika akhada
A martial dance with swords and shields from Odisha, rooted in warrior trainingWar or martial dance · Group · Line or chain
🇦🇺 AustraliaWangga
A ceremonial song and dance tradition of northern Aboriginal Australian communitiesRitual dance · Group
🇪🇬 Egypt and 3 moreZaffaزفـّـة
A wedding procession with music and dance across the Arab worldFolk dance · Procession · Group
🇳🇬 Nigeria and 1 moreEgungunEgúngún
A Yoruba ancestor masquerade where robed dancers embody the spirits of the dead.Ritual dance · Group · Procession
🇵🇭 PhilippinesDinagyang Festival
A street dance festival in Iloilo City honoring the Santo Niño and Ati historyFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreGarba
A circle dance from Gujarat performed around a clay pot during the Navratri festival.Folk dance · Circle
🇧🇧 BarbadosBarbados Land-ship
A parade and dance tradition in Barbados, mimicking naval maneuvers on landFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇧🇪 Belgium and 5 moreProcessional giant
Huge costumed figures carried and danced in European street processionsFolk dance · Solo · Procession
🇧🇷 BrazilMaracatu
A parade of drums, song and royal court figures from Pernambuco, BrazilFolk dance · Procession · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaDhunuchi nritya
A dance with incense burners during Durga Puja in BengalFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇳🇵 Nepal and 3 moreDeusi-Bhailoदेउसी-भैलो
A house-to-house singing and dancing tradition during Tihar in NepalFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇹🇭 ThailandThai danceนาฏศิลป์
Classical and folk dances shaped by many cultures across Thailand’s regionsClassical dance · Solo · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaKathakali
A classical dance-drama of Kerala with vivid costumes and expressive storytellingClassical dance · Group
🇨🇳 China and 5 moreLion dance舞獅
A costumed dance that mimics a lion to bring luck and drive away evilFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreKathak
A North Indian classical dance of rhythm and storytelling, shaped by temple roots and Mughal courts.Classical dance · Solo
🇮🇳 IndiaOdissiଓଡ଼ିଶୀ
A classical dance-drama from the temples of Odisha, shaped by devotion and storytellingClassical dance · Solo · Group
🇨🇳 ChinaDragon dance舞龙 / 舞龍
A team dance with a giant dragon puppet, seen at Chinese New Year and festivalsFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇮🇳 IndiaKuchipudi
A classical dance-drama from Andhra Pradesh, rooted in Hindu temple traditionClassical dance · Group · Solo
🇨🇴 Colombia and 1 moreCumbia
A circle dance from Colombia’s Caribbean coast, led by couples with candles and musicians in the centerFolk dance · Couple · Circle
🇮🇳 IndiaKoodiyattamകൂടിയാട്ടം
A Sanskrit theatre tradition performed in Kerala's temple theatresClassical dance · Group · Solo
🇮🇳 IndiaMohiniyattam
A solo classical dance from Kerala, marked by gentle, swaying movementsClassical dance · Solo
🇮🇳 IndiaChhau
A martial and folk dance with masks, performed in eastern India during spring festivalsFolk dance · Group
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreManipuri danceJagoi Raas, Raas Jagoi
A classical dance-drama from Manipur, telling stories of Krishna and RadhaClassical dance · Group · Solo
🇪🇸 Spain and 4 moreFandango
A lively Spanish partner dance in triple meter, accompanied by guitars and castanets.Folk dance · Couple · Group
🇷🇸 Serbia and 2 moreKoloКоло
A South Slavic circle dance for groups at weddings and celebrationsFolk dance · Circle · Line or chain
🇺🇸 United StatesHula
A Hawaiian dance that interprets song or chant through movement and gestureFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇧🇹 Bhutan and 2 moreCham danceའཆམ་
A masked Buddhist ritual dance performed at festivals in Tibet, Bhutan, and MongoliaRitual dance · Group
🇸🇿 Eswatini and 1 moreUmhlanga
An annual gathering where young women carry reeds and dance before royaltyRitual dance · Procession · Group
🇷🇴 Romania and 3 moreCălușari
A springtime men's ritual dance with acrobatics and sticks from RomaniaFolk dance · Group · Circle
🇷🇴 Romania and 6 moreHora
A group circle dance found across Southeast Europe and in Jewish communitiesFolk dance · Circle · Line or chain
🇰🇷 South Korea and 1 moreGanggangsullae강강술래
A Korean circle dance sung and danced by women under the full moonFolk dance · Circle · Line or chain
🇫🇷 FranceFarandolefarandola
A long chain dance of Provence, led by a drummer with a tambourine and flute.Folk dance · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaTandava
A vigorous dance of Shiva, seen in Indian classical and ritual traditionsClassical dance · Solo · Group
🇧🇴 Bolivia and 2 moreDiablada
A masked devil dance from the Andes, led by Saint Michael at CarnivalFolk dance · Procession · Group
🇯🇵 JapanKagura神楽
A Shinto ritual dance where performers channel deities through slow circling and energetic leaping.Ritual dance · Group · Procession
🇬🇷 Greece and 5 moreCircle dance
A group dance in a circle or curved line, joined by hand and led around the floorFolk dance · Circle · Line or chain
🇮🇩 IndonesiaKecakᬓᬾᬘᬓ᭄
A massed chant and dance-drama from Bali, performed in a circle at duskFolk dance · Circle · Group
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Haka: Merrett, Joseph Jenner, 1816-1854., Public domain, source
- Bharatanatyam: Arian Zwegers, CC BY 2.0, source
- Ganggangsullae: originally by photoren, CC BY 2.0, source
- Hora: Chajeshukarie ( talk ), Public domain, source
- Farandole: Hans Thoma, Public domain, source
- Cumbia: Joseacuario, CC0, source
- Kathakali: Paul Varuni, CC BY 2.0, source
- Kecak: Rollan Budi, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Tandava: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Hula: Ron Ardis, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Awa Dance Festival: Rosino, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Dinagyang Festival: Bernardo 'Berniemack' Arellano III, CC BY 3.0, source
- Maracatu: Prefeitura de Olinda, CC BY 2.0, source
- Mocko jumbie: COD Newsroom, CC BY 2.0, source
- Thai dance: Berlin Phonogramm-Archiv, Public domain, source
- Dancing devils of Corpus Christi: Wilfredor, CC0, source
- Processional giant: Jesús Serna, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Powwow: Smithsonian Institution, No restrictions, source
- Sanjuanito: G.Garitan, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Barbados Land-ship: Ronaldwalcott, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hakafot: Meir624, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Dhunuchi nritya: Amitbsws, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ramlila: Ankit Gupta, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Deusi-Bhailo: Enepal Khabar Official, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Junkanoo: WikiPedant, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Capoeira: Augustus Earle, Public domain, source
- Călușari: El bes, CC BY 3.0, source
- Manipuri dance: https://www.flickr.com/photos/matsukin/, CC BY 2.0, source
- Kolo: Sasa.mazinjanin, Public domain, source
- Kuchipudi: Augustus Binu / facebook, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lion dance: Alfresco24, CC BY 3.0, source
- Mohiniyattam: Shagil Kannur, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chhau: Skasish, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Odissi: Melolagnia28192, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dragon dance: Caseman, Public domain, source
- Koodiyattam: Sreekanthv at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Diablada: Elemaki, CC BY 3.0, source
- Cham dance: Arian Zwegers, CC BY 2.0, source
- Umhlanga: Amada44, Public domain, source
- Fandango: Pierre Chasselat, Public domain, source
- Kathak: Shinjinikulkarni, CC BY 4.0, source
- Garba: anurag agnihotri, CC BY 2.0, source
- Kagura: Elstner Hilton, Public domain, source
- Egungun: Ìṣẹ̀ṣeAssembly, CC BY-SA 4.0, source